Stand-alone packaging for tubes

ABSTRACT

A stand-alone packaging ( 1 ) for tubes ( 14 ) of different shapes and sizes being placed in the packaging ( 1 ) having a back wall ( 2 ) and a front wall ( 3 ), which are linked at a top side ( 4 ), a bottom wall ( 5 ) and a platform surface ( 6 ), which is linked to the back wall ( 2 ) and the front wall ( 3 ), the back wall ( 2 ), at its bottom side, has a tab ( 8 ) that fits into an opening ( 9 ) at a fold between the bottom side of an interior front wall ( 15 ) and the bottom wall ( 5 ), the platform surface ( 6 ) is connected to the bottom wall ( 5 ) by the interior front wall ( 15 ) which becomes visible when opening the back wall ( 2 ), the platform surface ( 6 ) has a flap ( 11 ) linking the platform surface ( 6 ) to the front wall ( 3 ), the platform surface ( 6 ) is parallel to the bottom wall ( 5 ) and has an opening ( 7 ) in which the tube ( 14 ) fits, wherein the tube ( 14 ) is placed upside down in the packaging ( 1 ) with the tube ( 14 ) fitting narrowly into the opening ( 7 ) of the platform surface ( 6 ), and the portion at which the tube ( 14 ) is sealed being placed at the top side ( 4 ), a fold ( 17 ) is provided between the top side ( 4 ) and the back wall ( 2 ), such that the back wall ( 2 ) is hinged to the top side ( 4 ) of the packaging ( 1 ) and can be opened so as to remove the tube ( 14 ).

CROSS-FEFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the national stage filing under 371 of internationalapplication Ser. No. PCT/EP03/05719 filed on May 27, 2003.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a stand-alone packaging for tubes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Consumer products for skin care are contained in an appropriate primarypackaging, such as a bottle, a plastic container, or a tube. Thisprimary packaging in turn is usually packed into a secondary packaging,the function of which is to protect the product inside and to provide ameans of presenting the product to the public. The most frequently usedsecondary packaging is a cardboard box in which the primary packedproduct is placed.

The presentation of the product to the consumer is important in that itallows conveying certain information about the product and helps theconsumer to make her or his choice to purchase the product. Stand-alonepackages offer particular advantages in this regard in that they caneasily be placed on the shelf, counter or other spots where the productis presented to the public.

Various types of secondary packagings have been disclosed in the priorart. For example, DE 91 08 595 U discloses a packaging that has a backwall and a front wall, which are linked at a top side, a bottom wall anda platform surface, which is linked to the back wall and the front wall,the back wall, at its bottom side, has a tab that fits into an openingat a fold between the bottom side of an interior front wall and thebottom wall, the platform surface is connected to the bottom wall by theinterior front wall which becomes visible when opening the back wall,the platform surface has a flap linking the platform surface to thefront wall by gluing, the platform surface is parallel to the bottomwall and has an opening in which the tube fits.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,367,174 describes a confection-cone carrier consistingof a rectangular cardboard or paper blank. A plurality of perforationseach of which having a diameter corresponding to that of a cone areprovided adjacent the right-hand end of the blank. Adjacent theperforations the blank is slit to provide a pair of first tabs, whichextend in the direction of the perforations. The blank is slitintermediate its ends to provide another pair of second tabs whichextend in the direction opposite to said first tabs. Adjacent saidsecond tabs the blank is formed with a pair of oval openings which aredesigned for the reception of a person's finger so that the portion ofthe blank between two openings provides a handle for carrying thecarrier as a unit. The blank is bent to provide a bottom, a front wall,a supporting partition, a lip, a rear wall and a cover. The lip extendsdownwardly and engages the second tabs whereby the supporting partitionis supported in horizontal position and in spaced parallel relation withthe bottom to support the cones within said perforations. The cover isextended over the partition with its free end secured against and inoverlapping relation to the front wall by means of third tabs and saidfirst tabs. The third tabs are inserted into the openings provided bythe first tabs such that the upward displacement of the cover from thefront wall is prevented.

WO 02 20367 A discloses a carton for holding one or more articles likeflexible pouches and comprises an article retaining structure forpreventing the dislodging of the packaged articles through the open endsof the carton. A retaining panel extends between the carton side wallsintermediate the top and bottom walls of the carton to form a tubularstructure in cooperation with the top wall. The retaining panel isformed with at least one article receiving aperture. Tubular structureis provided with a brace for retaining the tubular structure in anerected form.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,692,228 shows a unit dose device having a base extendingbetween a back and a front. The base is connected to the back at a firstfold and to the front at a second fold. A support, having a hole,extends between the back and the front. The support is connected to thefront at a third fold. A top is pivotally connected to the back at afourth fold. The top is movable to cover the support. Means are providedfor fixing the support to the back between the first and fourth folds.Means are also provided for removably securing the top in a positionoverlying the support and spaced apart therefrom.

DE 91 14 139 U is related to a package, particularly for batteries,having a back side and a structure being mounted to a lower region ofthe back. Said backside forms also a back side section in the upperregion of said structure and extends from the upper wall to a lower wallof the structure. A fold is provided at the lower end of the backsideand is part of the lower wall of the structure. The lower wall hasanother fold defining a section line between the lower wall and astiffened front wall section of the structure being positionedrectangularly to the lower wall. The stiffened front wall is spaced in aparallel position to the back side which space corresponds to the sizeof the cross-section of the batteries. The stiffened front wall has afold opposite to the lower wall of the structure. This fold defines aconnecting line between the stiffened front wall and a skirt for thebatteries. Said skirt is positioned at a right angle to the back side ofthe package. Also, the skirt has a fold at the opposite side of thestiffened front wall, which skirt forms a section line between the skirtand a back wall of the structure wherein the back side is positioned ata right angle to the skirt and parallel to the backside of the package.The structure of the package has a front wall being spaced parallel tothe back side. Said front wall has a plunging latch at its lower endassociated to the lower wall of the structure which latch isintroducible in to a slot in the lower wall being positioned in themidst of the fold forming the connecting line between the lower wall andfront wall. The front wall has a window, whilst the back side has anopening to suspend the package.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,015,043 discloses a folded bottle display packaging ofwhich a top portion of the bottle is covered by a cap. A window is sizedso as to allow the top portion of the bottle to protrude through a planeformed by a front wall of the package. A top flap is left in the windowextending along the same plane as top portion over the window. Said topflap secures the bottle in position. A wrap-around portion creates atent-like package with open sides to view the bottle through the side ofthe package.

FR 2 513 867 A is related to a package, particularly for tubes. Arectangular section forms a tongue and two openings and has severalfolding lines. One end of said section is folded onto itself andattached by adhesive so as to form a prismatic tube. Said tube defines abase to form a back wall adjacent to two openings for the tubes. Anopposite end of the section is folded to the front side. The tongueextends from the tube to its other end and is connected to the otherfolded end by adhesive. The tubes are immobilized between the openingsin the prismatic tube receiving them and the upper end being folded tothe front side.

DE 42 18 290 A shows a package for a tube consisting of a longitudinalsection having at least two folding regions to form a base and two legportions which are folded so as to form a tube-like structure having atriangular cross section and one-piece upper portion which is formed byboth of said legs being connected to one another by adhesive and has anopening in its upper part to suspend said package. One leg has a cut-outportion a part of which is folded into the space provided by thetriangular cross-section of said tubular base and has an openingcorresponding to the cross-section of the sealed portion of the tube asto form a support for the tube above said base of the triangular tube.The upper end of the tube is held by a latch being cut out from theother leg in the upper vertical section commonly formed by said two legsbeing connected to one another.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,847,282 discloses an open-end display carton forcollapsible tubes formed from a cut and scored blank. It comprises arectangular base panel having a first end structure foldably connectedat one end thereof for supporting an end of said tube. The other end ofthe base panel has a second end structure foldably connected thereto andsupporting the opposite end of the tube, both of the structures havingabutments located at fold lines thereof for location and support of theends of the tube. A first closing panel is foldably connected to thefirst end structure and a second closing panel is foldably connected tothe second end structure. The second closing panel extends over the basepanel in spaced relationship thereto and is secured to the first closingpanel.

DE 297 02 982 U describes a sales packaging for small containers whichpackage has a front wall, a back wall and a bottom, wherein the frontwall has an opening, the contour of which is smaller than the contour ofthe small container. The contour of the opening in the bottom and coverof the container projects into the contour of the container. The packageis made from a rectangular strip having embossments for folding whichdivide said strip in sections that form the front wall, the back wall,the bottom and a securing latch. A slot is provided between the bottomand the securing latch as to receive an insertion latch at the oppositeend of said strip. Another section of the strip connected to the backwall covers the front wall in the folded condition of the package.

One type of packagings for tubes are small completely closed cartons orcardboard boxes in which the tube narrowly fits. Although this type ofpackaging offers good product protection and is easy to handle, it issomewhat disadvantageous in terms of presentation to the consumer: thistype of packaging is not particularly well suited for presentation as astand-alone packaging nor for hanging. Nor can the consumer readilyinspect the tube packed in this type of box. Another type of packagingcomprises a cardboard platform covered by a transparent film thatnarrowly encloses the tube. Although this may be a visually attractiveproduct presentation, it has the disadvantage of being unconvenient foropening and once opened, the packaging is destroyed.

Another problem associated with closed cardboard box packages is thatthey do not allow the consumer to visually inspect the product that ispacked inside. Making openings in the packaging usually results inreduced strength causing the packaging to become unattractive and alsoto provide inadequate protection to the product packed therein.

Hence there is a need for secondary packagings for tubes that allow astand-alone presentation of the product, and, by preference, can also behung. There is an additional need for secondary packagings that allow anattractive presentation of the product packed therein and that allow aneasy removal of the product. There is a further need to provide asecondary packaging for tubes that allow the consumer to see andvisually inspect the product while having sufficient strength toadequately protect the product packed therein. Additionally, there is aneed for secondary packagings that can be stacked compactly in cardboardboxes used for transportation of the products in the distribution chainfrom manufacturer to user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is meant to address these needs by providing a newstand-alone packaging for tubes, having the particular featuresdescribed in claim 1. Subclaims 2 to disclose further useful embodimentsand improvements.

Accordingly, this invention concerns a stand-alone packaging for tubesor similar products of different shapes and sizes being placed in thepackaging. The stand-alone packaging has a back wall and front wall,which are linked together at a topside. It further has a bottom wall anda platform surface, which is linked to the back wall and the front wall.The back wall, at its bottom side, has a tab that fits into an openingat a fold between the bottom side of an interior front wall and thebottom wall. The platform surface is connected to the bottom wall by theinterior front wall, which becomes visible when opening the back wall.The platform surface has a flap linking the platform surface to thefront wall, preferably by gluing. The platform surface is parallel tothe bottom wall and has an opening in which the tube fits.

The stand-alone packaging of the invention is further characterized inthat the tube is placed upside down in the packaging and the portion atwhich the tube is sealed is placed at the tip side. Preferably, theportion of the tube that fits narrowly into the opening of the platformsurface is the cap portion of the tube. The platform surface has one ormore grooves providing extra strength to the platform surface.Preferably the grooves run in parallel and more preferably, the platformsurface has two grooves, each positioned at another side of the openingin the platform surface and still more preferably, each groove runs fromthe front to the back wall portion of the platform surface, both groovesrunning in parallel. In particular embodiments, the top side of thepackaging in itself is a plane and is formed by linking of the topsections of the back wall and the front wall. In other particularembodiments, a fold is provided between the top side and the back wall.The back wall is hinged to the top side of the packaging and can beopened so as to remove the tube. The back wall may optionally have anopening at the fold between the top side and the back wall, or the saidfold may have one or more slits or cuts. The top side preferably has apack board opening at the top. Preferably, the bottom wall and theplatform surface are of equal size.

Finally, the invention is also related to a strip of material, which canbe transformed into a stand-alone packaging as above-mentioned, whereinthe strip is linked together at two spots, one at the top, the other atthe spot at the front wall where the platform surface is linked to it.

Of particular preference are the embodiments of the present inventionhaving one or more of the particular, preferred or specific featuresmentioned throughout this specification and claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will be explained in detail with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a stand-alonepackaging according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, with opened backpanel.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a back view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a stand-alonepackaging according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 5 without tube, and

FIG. 7 is a back view of the embodiment of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 5 with a tube andan opened back wall.

FIG. 9 shows a strip of material used for making the embodiment of FIG.1.

FIG. 10 shows a strip of material used for making the embodiment of FIG.5.

This invention concerns a stand-alone packaging 1 for tubes 14 as shownin FIG. 5 or similar products. It has a back wall 2 and a front wall 3,which are linked together at a top side 4. It further has a bottom wall5 and a platform surface 6, which is linked to the back wall 2 and thefront wall 3. This platform surface 6 is parallel to the bottom wall 5and has an opening 7 in which a tube narrowly fits. The platform surface6 is connected by the bottom wall 5 to an interior front wall 15, whichbecomes visible when opening the back wall 2.

In certain embodiments, the top side 4 in itself may be a plane or inother embodiments it can be just a fold 17 between the front wall 3 andthe back wall 2. In the embodiments where the top side is a plan initself, the fold 17 may be at the back wall 2, or at the front wall 3 orat both walls 2 and 3. Preferably, fold 17 is only at the back wall 2and no fold 17 is present at the front wall. In certain embodiments fold17 is provided with one or more narrow slits or cuts 18, preferably withone narrow slit or cut 18 in the middle of fold 17. This may be done toease opening of back wall 2 by reducing the resistance of the hingingfold 17.

In certain embodiments, the fold between the interior front wall 15 andplatform surface 6 may be provided with one or more narrow slits or cuts19, preferably with one narrow slit or cut 19 in the middle of saidfold. This may be done to ease folding of the material of which thepackaging is made when creating the fold between wall 15 and platform 6.

The packaging 1 optionally has a pack board opening 13 at the top. Thepack board opening 13 conveniently is located at the top side 4,preferably in the middle of the plane of top side 4.

The back wall 2 is hinged to the top side 4 of the packaging and can beopened so as to remove the product inside. The back wall 2 has a closingmeans, which links the bottom portion of the back wall 2 to the interiorfront wall 15.

In certain embodiments, the back wall 2, at its bottom side, has a tab 8that fits into an opening 9 at the fold between the bottom side of theinterior front wall 15, and bottom side 5.

In particular embodiments of the invention, the platform surface 6 mayhave one or more grooves 12, which provide extra strength to theplatform surface 6. In further particular embodiments platform surface 6has two grooves 12, preferably one at each side of opening 7.Preferably, said grooves 12 run in parallel from the back wall 2 to thefront wall 3.

Preferably, the tube 14 is placed in the packaging in such way that theupper part of the tube, i.e. the part of the tube that is sealed,touches the top part of the inner part of the packaging, i.e. therewhere the front wall 3 and the back wall 2 touch each other.

The back wall 2 or the front wall 3 may optionally have an opening 10 inwhich the sealed part of the tube 14 fits. Preferably opening 10 is atthe back wall 2, more in particular at the fold 17 between back wall 2and top side 4. In preferred embodiments, opening 10 is in the middle offold 17. Opening 10 may be used to provide extra support to the tube,which is advantageous with narrower tubes. Opening 10 mostadvantageously is present in those packagings that are for packing roundtubes.

In an embodiment of the invention, the opening 10 is at the top of theback wall 2, in particular at the fold 17 between the top section 4 andthe back wall 2.

The package can be made out of one strip of material, which is linkedtogether at two spots, one at the top, the other at a spot at the frontwall where the platform surface 6 is linked to it. The platform surface6 therefore has a flap 11 whose purpose is to link the platform surface6 to the back wall 2.

The invention further relates to strips of material, which can betransformed into a stand-alone packaging as defined herein.

FIG. 1 shows the stand-alone package 1 according to the invention withthe closed back wall 2. The latter and the front wall 3 are linkedtogether at the bottom of the top section 4. The top section 4 mayoptionally have the pack board opening 13.

More details can be seen from FIGS. 2, 3 and 4.

FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the stand-alone packaging ofthe invention in which the sides of the front wall 3 and the back wall 2are curved, which provides an elegant presentation of the packaging 1.In the embodiment represented in FIG. 5, the curving is such that thetop portion of the front wall 3 and the back wall 2 is wider than thebottom portion 5. This type of packaging may be advantageous to packtubes 14, which are more flatly shaped (having a cross-section which anellipse, a flattened ellipse or the like) which tubes usually arebroader at the side where the tube is sealed, i.e. opposite to the sideof a cap 16.

More details can be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 5 with theopened back wall 3 in which the tube 14 is present. The tab 8 fits inthe opening 9.

FIG. 9 shows a strip of material of which the embodiment of FIG. 1 ismade. The interrupted lines in the figures refer to the pre-folds. Atthese spots, the strip will be folded. The flap 11 will be glued to theback wall 2. The two interior sides of the top side 4 will be gluedtogether. The grooves 12 provide extra strength to the packaging.

FIG. 10 shows a strip of material of which the embodiment of FIG. 5 ismade.

The stand-alone packaging 1 according to the present invention is meantto contain tubes 14 of different shapes and sizes. The shape of thetubes 14 can be cylindrical, or close to cylindrical, i.e. having across-section, which is a circle or close to a circle. The tubes 14 canalso take other forms, i.e. a flattened form, i.e. having across-section, which is an ellipse or close to an ellipse, e.g. aflattened ellipse, or a square or rectangle, or close to a square orrectangle, e.g. a square or rectangle with rounded edges.

The tubes 14 are placed upside down in the packaging, i.e. with the partof the tube 14 having the cap 16 at the bottom side 5 of the packaging1, and the portion at which the tube 14 is sealed at the top side 4. Thetubes 14 can be long or short, i.e. the ratio between length and widthmay vary. Preferably, the cap portion of the tube is held in the opening7.

The shape of the tube 14 will impact the shape of the opening 7 in theplatform surface 6 in that this shape is adapted to the shape of thetube 14 held therein. The opening 7 has the same or about the same shapeand size as the cross-section of the tube 14 held therein. Thedimensions of the stand-alone packaging 1 according to the invention arein relation to the tube 14 packed therein, e.g. longer tubes 14 requirea higher front wall 3 and higher back wall 2.

The tubes 14 can be made of any material used in the art, e.g. plastic,metal, mono- or multi-layered. The products contained in the tubes 14may be any material known in the art to be packed in tubes. It can bepersonal care products, such as creams, jellies, pastes (e.g. toothpastes). Examples of creams are moisturizing, anti-aging, sunscreen andthe like creams. Other materials that can be packed in the tubes 14 arefood products, glues and other connecting materials, paints, fillermaterials and the like.

The material from which the packaging 1 of the invention is made can beany material suitable for making secondary packagings. Preferably thepackage 1 is made of cardboard. The cardboard can be mono- ormulti-layered or can be covered by a layer or coating from anothermaterial such as plastic or metal. It can be printed or coated, or both,partially or over its complete surface.

As mentioned above, several of the dimensions of the packaging 1 of thisinvention are determined by the dimensions of the tube 14 packedtherein, examples of such dimensions being the size of opening 7, thelength of the front and the back walls 3 and 2. Other dimensions can bechosen, e.g. the width of the front and the back walls 3 and 2, thedimensions of the bottom surfaces 5 and 6 and the same of the top side4. Also the shape of some of these surfaces may vary. In one embodimentall surfaces are squares or rectangles but in other embodiments thesides of the back and front wall 2 and 3 can be rounded.

In alternative embodiments, the back wall and the front wall may beprovided with one or more openings. In particular, the back wall 2 andthe front wall 3 may optionally be provided with one or more openingsallowing further means to visualize the tube 14 packed in the packaging1. In order not to loose too much strength, these openings shallpreferably be not too big or too many. If desired, e.g. to make theproduct more attractive, these openings in the back wall 2 or in thefront wall 3 may be furnished with a transparent film.

The bottom wall 5 and the platform surface 6 are parallel planes. Theycan be of different or, which is preferred, of equal size.

In further alternative embodiments, the back wall and the front wall mayhave an additional fold where those walls hit the platform surface sothat a section of the back wall and the front wall form a separate wallbetween the bottom surface and the platform surface. Said separate wallmay run in parallel where the bottom wall and the platform surface areequally sized planes. In particular, the back wall 2 and the front wall3 may have an additional fold where those walls hit the platform surface6 so that a section of the back wall 2 and the front wall 3 between thebottom surface 5 and the platform surface 6 form a separate wall, whichmay run in parallel where the bottom surface 5 and the platform surface6 are equally sized planes.

In one type of embodiments, the top side 4 is formed by linking togetherthe extensions of the back wall 2 and the front wall 3. The linking canbe done by standard means, e.g. by gluing the two sides of the topsection 4 together.

The top side 4 may be of different sizes or shapes. Its size should besuch that it provides sufficient surface to allow adequate linkage ofthe top sections 4 of the back wall 2 and the bottom wall 5. In oneembodiment it is just a fold between the back wall 2 and the bottom wall5. In embodiments not requiring the pack board opening 13, the top side4 may be relatively small. In embodiments requiring the pack boardopening 13 the top side 4 may be a bigger plane and should at least bebig enough to allow an adequate positioning of the opening 13.

The packaging 1 preferably has a pack board opening 13 at the top. Incertain embodiments, the opening 13 is located in the top section 4,e.g. in about the middle of the plane forming the top section 4. Theopening 13 may have different shapes adapted for hanging on a suitablehanging means. One particular shape is rectangular, with rounded edges,with a small round-shaped recess at the top middle part in which thehanger fits.

The flap 11 is linked to the back wall 2 so that the platform surface 6is held in place. This linking is also done by standard means, e.g. bygluing the flap 11 to the front wall 3.

The stand-alone packaging 1 of this invention has sufficient strength toadequately protect the tube 14 packed therein. Additionally, the tube 14packed inside is visible to the consumer from the side of the packaging,which is open. The packaging 1 can easily be opened and closed in orderto remove the tube 14 and place it back into packaging 1.

The packaging 1 according to the invention further allows an attractivepresentation of the tube 14 packed therein. The packaging 1 can belabeled, e.g. at its front 3 or back walls 2, by adhering appropriatelabels or by printing or coating, or a combination of these.

Another advantage is that the packages 1 can be compactly stacked incardboard boxes.

The packaging 1 of this invention can be presented as a stand-aloneproduct but in case it is furnished with the pack board opening 13 itcan also be presented on hangers.

The packaging of the invention can easily be manufactured by simple andlow cost procedures, with limited waste of raw material. Compared tostandard packagings 1 for tubes 14 which are completely closed cardboardboxes the total amount of needed raw material for manufacturing thepackagings 1 of the present invention is less.

An additional feature of the packagings 1 of the present invention isthat they easily allow the front 3 and back wall 2 to be broader, givingthe packaging 1 a larger facing, the latter referring to the side of theproduct that is visible to the consumer. This allows for more visibilityof the information that can be put on the front 3 or back wall 2 such astrademarks, drawings, color patterns, informative text and the like.

The packaging 1 according to the invention is made out of one strip ofmaterial that is provided with grooves for folding. One or more of thegrooves for folding may be provide with one or more slits or cuts foreasy folding. Preferably, one or more of the folds is provide with aslit or cut positioned in the middle of the fold. Subsequently the stripis folded and the front and the back side of the top portion 4 arelinked together as well as the flap 11 to the front wall 3. The linkingmay be done by an appropriate glue.

The invention further relates to strips of material, which can betransformed into the stand-alone packaging 1 as defined herein. In oneembodiment said strip comprises the back section 2, the top side section4, the front side section 3, the bottom section 5, the small frontsection 15, the platform surface section 6 and the flap 11.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

-   1 stand-alone package-   2 back wall-   3 front wall-   4 top side-   5 bottom side-   6 platform surface-   7 opening-   8 tab-   9 opening-   10 opening-   11 flap-   12 groove-   13 opening-   14 tube-   15 small front section-   16 cap-   17 fold-   18 cut or slit-   19 cut or slit

1. A stand-alone packaging for tubes of different shapes and sizes beingplaced in the packaging having a back wall and a front wall, which arelinked at a top side, a bottom wall and a platform surface, which islinked to the back wall and the front wall, the back wall, at its bottomside, has a tab that fits into an opening at a fold between the bottomside of an interior front wall and the bottom wall, the platform surfaceis connected to the bottom wall by the interior front wall which becomesvisible when opening the back wall the platform surface has a flaplinking the platform surface to the front wall, the platform surface isparallel to the bottom wall and has an opening in which the tube fits,wherein the tube is placed upside down in the packaging with the tubefitting narrowly into the opening of the platform surface, and theportion at which the tube is sealed being placed at the top side, a foldis provided between the top side and the back wall, such that the backwall is hinged to the top side of the packaging and can be opened so asto remove the tube.
 2. A packaging according to claim 1 wherein the topside in itself is a plane and is formed by linking of the top sectionsof the back wall and the front wall.
 3. A packaging according to claims1 or 2 wherein a fold is provided between the top side and the back walland no fold is provided at front wall.
 4. A packaging according to claim2 wherein the top side has a pack board opening at the top.
 5. Apackaging according to claim 1 wherein the bottom and the platformsurface are of equal size.
 6. A packaging according to claim 1 whereinthe platform surface has grooves providing extra strength to theplatform surface.
 7. A packaging according to claim 5 wherein theplatform surface has two grooves, one at each side of the opening 7,said grooves running from the back wall to the front wall.
 8. Apackaging according to claim 1 wherein the cap of the tube fits narrowlyinto the opening.
 9. A packaging according to claim 1 wherein the backwall or the front wall are provided with an opening at a fold betweenthe top side and the back wall or the front wall (3).
 10. A packagingaccording to claim 1 wherein the linkages are obtained by gluing.
 11. Astrip of material, which can be transformed into a stand-alone packagingas claimed in claim 1, wherein the strip is linked together at twospots, one at the top, the other at the spot at the front wall where theplatform surface is linked to it.